Valve-spring compressor



M. MUSGRAVE.

VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-19,1921.

1324; 5 1 4 Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

III,

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

IVEABK IEUSGRA-VE, 0]? PITTSBURG}, KANSAS.

VALVE-SPRING COMPRESSOR.

inseam.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

Application filed February 19, 1921. Serial No. 446,325.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Mann ltlnscnnvn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful lnlprovements in Valve-Spring Compressors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had .to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to valve spring compressors and has for an important object the provision of a device for compressing the springs of the poppet valves of internal combustion engines which is not dependent upon any particular portion of the engine for a support while using the same.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, the valve spring compressors upon the market which depend upon a certain portion of the engine or frame of an automobile for support are only capable of limited use, since the construction of different engines and vehicles varies greatly and the support which would be present inone would be absent in another, rendering the tool unavailable. The present invention consists broadly in a support for the valve spring lifter proper which may be engaged in any desired angle or position through reasonable limits, and depends for its support at its lower end merely upon somevsurface upon which it may rest, and at its upper end engages the engine without the necessity of removing therefrom the intake and exhaust manifolds and similar appurtenances of the engine. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will" compress a spring and automatically lock the same in compressed position to permit ready removal of the pin or analogous locking means employed for holding the springs in position upon the valve stem.

These and other objects I attain by the provision of a bar having one end adapted to engage against the frame of the automobile or in the oil pan between the engine and the frame, and the other endadapted to abut against a manifold or any other available portion of the engine above the valve to be removed; Upon this bar is ad justably mounted a segment and lever mechanism embodying an adjustable valve lifting arm for engaging the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout,

F gure l is a side elevation partially in section showing a valve lifter constructed in accordance with my invention, positioned to elevate the spring of a valve,

Figure 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the compressor and showing the valve spring compressed,

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the man ner of mounting the igure at is a plan valve lifting arm.

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a supporting bar preferably circular in cross sec tion and adapted to engage at its lower end against the frame 11 of the automobile in which the engine is employed or against some similar support, and at its upper end against the intake or exhaust manifold- 12 of the engine or against the engine proper if these manifolds have been removed. As will hereinafter appear, variations of the angle of the bar when applied will not affect the operation thereof provided of course these variations be within reasonable limits.

The numeral 13 indicates a plate provided at its lower end with an ear l4 projecting atone side of the plate and having an open ing through which the bar 10 is slidably directed. At the same side of the plate a locking member 15 is pivotally connected, as at 16, and likewise embodies an opening through which the bar 10 slidably extends. Intermediate the ear 1d and locking member 15, a compression spring 17 extends, normally forcing the plate to the position disclosed in full lines in Figure 3, and locking plate 13 against downward movement with relation to the bar 10. When it is desired to shift the plate upwardly upon the bar 10, this may be accomplished by simply grasping the plate with the hand and moving the plate upwardly, and when it is desired to depress the plate upon the bar this may be accomplished by engaging the member 15 with the thumb so that the same is released from its frictional engagement'with the'bar lOand the plate depressed.

view of the end of the plate upon the bar, and

Pivotally mounted upon the opposite face of the plate 13 is a lever 18 provided at its lower end with guides 19 through which is adjustably directed a member 20 provided at one endwlth a head 21 adapted to engage beneath the valve spring seat.

It will be obvious that by positioning bar 10 as described, and by adjusting plate so that the member 20 may be alined with the space between the portions of the engine so that it may be adjusted therethrough to engage beneath the seat of the spring, that by shifting the lever 18 in the direction of the arrow on Figure 1, the spring will be compressed to the position shown in Figure 2. In order that it may not be necessary that the operator hold the lever 18 while the spring is in engaged position, I curve the upper surface of the plate 13 with the pivotal center of the lever 18 as a radius and form in this curved upper surface a series of ratchet teeth 22. The lever 18 has pivotally mounted thereon a dog 23 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth, this dog having connected thereto an armor link 24. The upper end portion of the lever 1.8 isoffset, said offset portion 25 being tubular. Slidably disposed through the tubular portion 25 is'a link 24- pivotally connected with the dog 23. This offset portion 25 is tubular in form, the link 24 extending through the bottom thereof. Within the offset or overhang'portion 25 the link is provided with an enlargement 26 slidably fitting into this tubular portion, and the spring 27 abuts'the lower end of the tubular portion 25, and against this enlargement, normally forcing the link 24 upwardly and accordingly causing the tooth 23 0: the dog to engage in the ratchetteeth. When it is the desired to release the tooth 23 v from the ratchet teeth 22 this may be'accomplishcd by pressing upon the upper end of tie onlargement '26 which projects beyond the upper end of the tubular member 25.

.ln'the employment of my device the bar 10 is positioned as hereinabove described and the head 21 of the adjustable member 20 engages beneath the spring seat of the valve from which the spring is to be re moved The operator then engages the lever, moving the same in the direction of the arrow on Figure 1, and the head 2i is accordingly elevated, compressing the spring, and is held in such elevated position by reason of the fact thatthe dog 23 is in engagement with the ratchet teeth 22,

Particular attention is called to the factthat the strain'caused in compressing the valve is mainly directed downwardly tending to more firmly seat the lower end of the bar 10'npon the surface with which it is engaged, and that the remaining strain tends to force the upper end of the bar inwardly toward the engine, and that accordingly the when the strain is placed upon the bar and lever by the compression of the spring, the bar seats very firmly and the handle 18 may be released, permitting the operator to employ both hands for removing the retaining pin from the valve stem. After the retaining pin has been removed, by pressing upon the upper end of the enlargement 26 the dog 23 may be disengagedfrom the ratchet teeth andthe spring released,

lit will be obvious from the foregoing'that my invention, by reasonof the fact that it can be employed for use without removing the intake or exhaust manifolds or any of the mechanism usually associated with the engine, and because of the simplicity and cheapness of construction thereof, is particularly well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended, and it will further more be obvious that the construction as hereinabove setforth is capable of some change in modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention. I accordingly do not limit myself to the specific structure hereinabove set forth er;- cept as hereinafter claimed. It will be understood in the interpretation of these claims that the term frame as employed therein refers not only to the frame upon which the engine is supported but to the oil pan, en-

gine base, or any other suitable adjusting support upon which the end of the'bar 10 may e arranged.

VVha-t I claim is: 1; A valve spring compressor comprising a bar, a plate ad'ustable upon the bar, a lever pivoted upon the plate and a member associated with the lever to be shiftedthere by, said member being adjustable trans versely, of the lever and, being provided. at one end with a head adapted to'engage beneath a spring seat. I a j 2. A valve spring compressor comprising a bar, a quadrant adjustably mounted upon said bar, a quadrant lever associated with the quadrant embodying guides and a member adjustably mounted within said guides and provided at one end with a head adapted to engage beneath the valve springseat.

A valve spring compressor comprising a bar circular in cross sectioi'i a plate, a connection between said plate and barfpermitting shifting of said plate upon said bar in one direction and normally preventing shifting of the plate upon the ,bar in the opposite direction, a lever pivotally mounted uponthe plate and provided adjacent the pivot point thereof with guides, a member adjustably mounted in said guides and provided atone endwith a head adapted toengage beneath the valve spring seat, and a connection between said lever and plate peri mitting movement of the lever in one direction and normally preventing movement of the lever in the oppos te direction.

4. A support for compressors for the valve springs of the internal combustion engines of automobiles and the like, comprising a bar adapted to engage against the frame of the automobile with its lower end and to abut against the engine adjacent its upper end, and a mounting for the valve spring compressor adjustably mounted upon said bar, comprising a plate and means connecting said plate and bar permitting shifting of said plate upon the bar in one directionand normally preventing shifting of the plate in the opposite direction.

5. A support for compressors for the valve springs of the internal combustion engines of automobiles and the like, comprising a bar adapted to engage against the engine supporting frame with its lower end and to abut against the engine adjacent its upper end, and a mounting for a valve spring compressor adjustable longitudinally of said bar and comprising a plate provided at one SIClQ adjacent its lower end with a guide through which said bar extends, a member pivotally mounted upon said plate and likewise provided with an opening through which said rod extends, and a spring disposed intermediate said guide and member.

6. Avalve spring compressor comprising a bar, a plate adjustable upon the bar, a lever pivoted upon the plate, a member associated with the lever to be shifted thereby, said member being adjustable transversely of the lever and being provided at one end with a head adapted to engage beneath a spring seat, ratchet teeth formed upon said plate and a releasable spring-pressed dog carried by said lever and engaging said ratchet teeth.

7. A support for compressors for the valve springs of the internal combustion engines of automobiles and the like, comprising a bar circular in cross section and adapted to engage against the engine supporting frame with its lower end and to abut against the engine adjacent its upper end, and a mounting for a valve spring compressor adjustable longitudinally of said bar and comprising a plate provided at one side adjacent its lower end with a guide through which said bar extends, a member pivotally mounted upon said plate and likewise provided with an opening through which said rod extends, and a coil spring surrounding said bar inter-- mediate said guide and member.

8. A valve spring compressor comprising a bar of a length to engage against the engine supporting frame and abut against the engine ad acent its upper end and a longimounted in said guides and provided at. one" end with a head adapted to engage beneath the valve spring seat.

10. A valve spring compressor comprising a pair of members operatively connected for relative swinging movement, one of which is adapted to engage. against the frame of the automobile with its lower end and'to abut against the engine adjacent its upper end, the other of said members being provided upon one end thereof with a head adapted to engage beneath the spring seat.

11. A valve spring presser comprising a member, a valve engaging means supported. thereby, a supporting rod, an outstanding ear carried by the member through which the rod is freely disposed, a locking plate pivotally supported by the member and through which the rod is also freely disposed, and automatic means for swinging the plate in a direction to lock the bar.

12. A valve spring presser comprising a member, a valve engaging means supported thereby, a supporting rod, an outstanding ear carried by the member through which the rod is freely disposed, a locking plate pivotally supported by the member and through which the rod is also freely disposed,

and a spring engaging the plate to swing the same in a direction to lock the bar.

13. A valve spring presser comprising a member, a valve engaging means supported thereby, a supporting rod, an outstanding ear carried by the member through which the rod is freely disposed, a locking plate pivotally supported by the member and through which the rod is also freely disposed, and a spring encircling the bar interposed between the ear and the plate to swing the plate in a direction to lock the bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix signature.

MARK MUSGRAVE. 

